There has been a lot of discussion lately regarding the future of Oakland Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie. Owner Mark Davis’s first hire since taking over from his late father Al Davis has certainly had his ups and downs. Let’s analyze some of McKenzie’s moves since becoming General Manager on January 5th, 2012.
McKenzie quickly fired then coach Hue Jackson on January 10th, 2012 after one season. The team that year under Jackson finished the season with a record of 8–8 and missed the playoffs, after starting the season 7–4. McKenzie then hired Dennis Allen on January 24th to be the team’s 18th head coach. Allen had previously served as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. Allen hired Greg Knapp as offensive coordinator a second time around. Knapp brought with him the zone blocking scheme which rendered the Raiders best offensive threat Darren McFadden ineffective. Knapp was relieved of his duties on December 31st, 2012.
McKenzie also inherited a team full of high priced and underperforming players, with more than $154 million committed towards the $120.6 million salary cap. The Raiders had also traded away most of their draft picks in the 2012 draft prior to his arrival, leaving the team with its first pick being in the third round.
Reggie McKenzie has been in charge of three drafts now with the Raiders.
2012
3. Tony Bergstrom, T, Utah
4. Miles Burris, LB, San Diego State
5a. Jack Crawford, DE, Penn State
5b. Juron Criner, WR, Arizona
6. Christo Bilukidi, DT, Georgia State
7. Nathan Stupar, LB, Penn State
The 2012 draft resulted in just one player playing significant snaps for the Raiders. This would be linebacker Miles Burris who has started much of this year at middle linebacker in place of the injured Nick Roach. The first pick in this draft, Tony Bergstrom, was picked to fit the zone blocking style implemented by Greg Knapp. Bergstrom remains on the roster but no longer fits the blocking style. The final four picks are no longer on the roster.
2013
1. DJ Hayden, CB, Houston
2. Menelik Watson, T, Florida State
3. Sio Moore, LB, Connecticut
4. Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
6a. Nick Kasa, TE, Colorado
6b. Latavius Murray, RB, Central Florida
6c. Mychal Rivera, TE, Tennesee
6d. Stacy McGee, DT Oklahoma
7a. Brice Butler, WR, San Diego State
7b. David Bass, DE, Missouri Western State
This would be McKenzie’s first full draft as GM. Unfortunately, the draft was highly regarded by many NFL executives as being weak, with one high-ranking team executive saying it is the worst draft in a decade. Picking third overall, and knowing the top of the draft was especially weak, McKenzie traded down to garner more picks. McKenzie seems to have struck gold on a few picks though, with Hayden, Watson, Moore, Murray, and Rivera starting for the team this year. The only wasted picks seem to be Wilson and Bass, with the others either being valuable backups or on injured reserve (Kasa).
2014
1. Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
2. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno St
3. Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi St
4a. Justin Ellis, DT, Louisiana Tech
4b. Keith McGill, CB, Utah
7a. Travis Carrie, CB, Ohio
7b. Shelby Harris, DE, Illinois St
7c. Jonathon Dowling, S, Western Kentucky
Picking fourth overall, in what looks to be a solid NFL draft, McKenzie stayed put and was very fortunate to have landed Mack and Carr. Both look to be solid building blocks for this franchise for many years to come. Also contributing this year are Jackson, Ellis, and Carrie. The jury is still out on McGill, Harris (practice squad), and Dowling (injured reserve). Landing quarterback Derek Carr was especially important, as the team finally seems to have shored up the quarterback position for the first time since Rich Gannon.
McKenzie has done a fine job with the drafts, especially considering that he didn’t have many picks in 2012 and 2013 was considered to be very weak. Landing 11 starters from these three drafts is quite impressive, even for a team bereft in talent. Compare this to the other AFC West teams over the same three years and you can see that the Raiders have done well.
Raiders – 11 starters, 4 backups
Kansas City Chiefs – 6 starters, 5 backups
San Diego Chargers – 8 starters, 5 backups
Denver Broncos – 2 starters, 13 backups
Undrafted free agents are not included in the above, but the Raiders have secured a couple of key players including Rod Streater and Marquette King, both starters.
It is in free agency where Reggie McKenzie has struggled. He has had to overpay aging players to come to the team, and has let go some key players none more noticeable than left offensive tackle Jared Veldheer who is having a strong season with the Arizona Cardinals. The Roger Saffold debacle had fans scratching their heads. It is worth noting that good young players are hard to attract to a struggling team like the Raiders, and with the signings McKenzie did make, he at least structured the deals so the franchise won’t be affected under the salary cap in 2015. The Raiders will have approximately $50 million in cap room heading into 2015 free agency, so McKenzie can again be active.
Only Mark Davis knows what he will do after the 2014 season, and the decision regarding GM Reggie McKenzie will be at the top of his list. If he stays, having another good draft and using his free agent dollars wisely will go a long way to bringing this franchise back to prominence.
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